I’m almost trembling as I write this, because the situation that lies ahead has become so clear and terrifying. While the comedians on Saturday Night Live joke about COVID-19 as something happening only in China or Italy, cases are appearing in Seattle and north of New York City. With an R rate of 2-4, and almost no testing for the virus, this means that many more people certainly have the disease. And older people are horribly at risk. My partner and I cried and held each other as we realized that one of our grandparents would almost certainly succumb to COVID-19, given how badly prepared the country was.
I have nothing but furor for De Blasio, Cuomo, and Trump, who’ve all certainly known about this disease for at least a month, and who have likely ignored the screaming urgency of their epidemiologists as they demand the country, the state, and the city do anything at all to keep people safe. Deep breaths are not going to save us (as Cuomo suggested to his daughter); only closing everything down and providing adequate face coverings and testing will do anything. In the face of staggering government inaction, I’m desperately trying to figure out what I can do to keep my friends and family safe. In the meantime I can only stock up on personal supplies and research the virus more and watch as a wave comes hurdling towards shore, certain to overwhelm the miniscule flood walls we’ve put up to defend ourselves.
staring at the moon
wondering whether it weeps
when it sees our plight